Spiced Spare Ribs :-P

A week or so ago, I stumbled upon a fabulous video of an event titled “Spiced Spare Ribs” organised by the Radical Middle Way. You can watch the video here. It’s about an hour long, and a wonderful, wonderful watch. I found myself nodding along, disagreeing at parts, vigorously agreeing at others, and overall, learning a lot. The four panelists at the event were very very different from one another, which created an environment for active, honest debate that was very cool to witness. And although all the speakers were intriguing, I LOVED Humera Shah’s commentary. Her comments about it being exhausting to fight and more productive to create avenues for women to be healthy and affirmed and whole (why are we so fixated on the mosque?), were thought provoking and inspiring. And the line I loved: “I’m getting old and I want to see a ray of sunshine before I die”, was one that I’ll remember for a while.

beautiful photos.

A beautiful set of photos of Ramadan worldwide.. You can view them here

And apologies for not posting for ages! I will be a better blogger from now on insha’Allah

well put

Westerners have singularly narrowed the history of the world in grouping the little that they knew about the expansion of the human race around the peoples of Israel, Greece and Rome. Thus they have ignored all those travellers and explorers who in their ships ploughed the China Sea and the Indian Ocean, or rode across the immensities of Central Asia to the Persian Gulf.  In truth the larger part of the globe, containing cultures different from those of the ancient Greeks and Romans but no less civilized, has remained unknown to those who wrote the history of their little world under the impression that they were writing world history.

~Henri Cordier

thankfulness

We take for granted the very things that most deserve our gratitude.~Cynthia Ozick

good reminders..

A while ago, I saw a sign in a doctor’s office with the following written on it. This is a bit paraphrased cos I was madly trying to copy it down before the doctor actually came in.

Good Day:

wake up early
reflect
eat like a king
smile lots
encourage, compliment when due
be enthusiastic with everyone you meet

Bad Day:

wake up late
no shower
rush
no exercise
no spiritual reflection
rush rush-coffee muffin very fast
worry
sour expression
be mad at work

warm and fuzzy

“What a surprise! This is the first time I see the guest is a muslim and prays! I’m proud of it! because I am muslim too and pray five times like U! May Allah bless U!”

~A note I found in our hotel room when travelling with my family last year. Our prayer mats were generally visible in the room: either folded on the bed or on one of the side tables, or folded on the floor in the direction of Makkah. On the last day of our stay our Muslim housekeeper left us that exciting note. I found the note today in an old book…and felt all warm and fuzzy all over again, even though the incident is long gone. Just shows you never know how your actions have an impact on those around you…

back to school..

In just a few days students all over the world (except places where the school calendar is structured differently of course) return to school. And for the first time in my life, I’m not one of them. I’m happy I graduated in May alhamidullah, but it is strange not to be thinking of school supplies right now, or agonising over lovely stationary and pens and notebook purchases. And it’s strange not to feel anticipation and excitement and nervousness about school–the feelings I usually have around this time of year.

Insha’Allah I will return to university soon for more schooling.

In the meantime though, this is a good opportunity to use the time I have to learn things I’ve wanted to learn for a while, and devote more time to things that haven’t received much attention in the past several months with the intensity of uni involvement and graduation.

For instance: Insha’Allah I finally have time to devote to SunniPath! Not all the courses for the fall term are up yet, but I’m having a really hard time choosing what I want to take from the current courses offered. A few courses I’m wrestling with..

1) Introductory Arabic 1: This is a class I’ve been wanting to take for a while now, but with uni classes, I always thought I didn’t have enough time. Also, in the past I’ve been a bit apprehensive about learning Arabic (can I really do it? But everyone says Arabic is sooo hard! What if the Arabic in the class doesn’t have diacritic marks and I can’t read it?) On the Rihla though we had a lovely Arabic class, I was surrounded by arabic during the trip, and generally, it finally dawned on me that if I don’t just start, I really won’t learn the language. I’ve got to stop making excuses and roll up my sleeves. So insha’Allah this semester will be my first foray into the structure of the Arabic language. Please make dua it goes well!

2) Introduction to Classical Logic: I can’t decide whether to take this class, but I really really want to. It’s taught by Shaykh Hamza Karamali who is an amazing teacher masha’Allah, and I’ve always left every class I’ve taken with him with lots to think and reflect upon. In his class “Finding the Straight Path” ( I don’t think it’s offered this semester) he spoke a great deal about the importance of thinking critically about issues and just generally using our brains, rather than being reactionary to whatever we read. I think a course devoted on sharpening my brain could be a wonderful learning opportunity, but it’s part of the SP transitional curriculum, which means technically I should be finishing the Foundations and Seekers curriculum before taking the course. But i really really want to take it now…

3) A Hanafi fiqh class: My confusion is over whether or not to take the Essentials class, or the Intermediate class. They seem pretty similar, but the Essentials class covers basic aqida, an intro to ihsan and prayer, whereas the intermediate class covers purification and prayer in detail. There is lots to learn from a beginner class, but I tried taking the intermediate class last year and didn’t get very far (too much going on!), so it would be a cheaper option..Aaah decisions!

Also the Ramadhan class on the spiritual aspects of Ramadan looks good too. Actually everything looks good..which is why it’s always agonising making SP decisions!

There is also a Saturday morning creative writing class at one of the local universities that looks lovely. I would looove to take it, but it’s an expensive course. Would it be better to get a book on creative writing?

so many debates.

To end off, things I love: ramadan excitement/shehzad’s roy new song laga reh/chaat papri surprises/mithai/sunshine/lipgloss/new SP course discoveries/meccaone lectures/comfy abayas/cosy lunches/solitude/yellow walls/newly vacuumed floors/reflection time/creamy moleskine pages

If I could pack the perfect book box..

Every so often, I like to treat myself with a little parcel of books. This is mostly something I used to do during my last year of university, when I decided to commute to school and give myself a little book budget in exchange for the saved rent. It was a nice way to keep my sanity on days that the transit system could have driven me crazy.

I’m not commuting anymore, but here are some books that I really want to get for myself in the near future insha’Allah. (Hmm…right now my bookshelf has books stacked on top of each other, so I think a trip to the furniture store is in order too.

My Wishlist..

a) Rethinking Muslim Women and the Veil: Challenging Historical and Modern Stereotypes by Katherine Bullock. I’ve heard incredible things about this book, and generally enjoy anything written by Dr Bullock. For a taster of her work, I highly recommend this short article.

b) Etiquette with the Quran by Musa Furber. This is another text I’ve been meaning to get for a while. When I took “The Seventy-Seven Branches of Faith” at Sunnipath a few years ago, this was one book we were highly encouraged to get a copy of. I love everything published by Starlatch Press, so I’m looking forward to reading this book.

c) Salat and Salam: In Praise of Allah’s most Beloved. This is a book published by White Thread Press, and is a beautiful compilation of salawat you can send to the Prophet. I saw lots of girls with this book when I was travelling, and it’s a gorgeous little text.

d) Prayers for Forgiveness. A excellent companion of the above mentioned text. A book that would have been nice to have while travelling.

e) Famous Women in Islam: CD Set by Dr Umar al Faruq: I really enjoy listening/reading work by Dr Umar. And I’ve heard fantastic things about this course. Plus the course clips I’ve heard online are very intriguing.

f) Two Treatises on Mutual Reminding and Good Manners by Imam Haddad: We studied parts of this book in the SP Journeys course (or the class Attaining Good Character)

f) Quran: A New Translation by Thomas Cleary: I have his book The Essential Koran, which is excellent, and I’ve heard good things about this longer translation as well.

g) The Story of the Quran: Its History and Place in Muslim Life by Ingrid Mattson: Ingrid Mattson is the author of this book. Nuff said.

Ok, I”m getting WAY too excited, going to stop now. And yes, I do read more than just books about Islam. And yes, I do love public libraries. But a girl can dream of the perfect parcel…

Active Gratitude

Making an active effort to be grateful this week has been an incredibly useful exercise. Yesterday I was feeling a bit down, so I thought I’d make a partial list of things I’m thankful for, that have come to mind over the last little while. That always, always seems to instantly boost my spirits. Try it, it really works.

So here goes, a few random thoughts about gratitude, as well as things I am grateful about right now.

The upcoming SP semester. There are lots of perennial favourites being offered that look fantastic, updates to course software that are being made, and plans in the works to offer many new courses this semester. Shaykh Abdul Kareem Yahya will be offering a new class, there will be a new Sirah course insha’Allah, and now SunniPath will even be offering tajweed courses! Alhamidullah, it’s good to know that I can continue my learning while I’m still at home, with teachers that exude an incredible love for the deen at all times, and in a setting that is incredibly cosy. (Separate post about SP coming soon insha’Allah)

I’m glad I can close my eyes and remember and visualise Madinah. It is a real gift having managed to travel there this summer, and I’m glad that when we have the gift of salawat-a chance for us to deliver salaams to the Prophet wherever we are in the world. That helps with the emotions of being away from the City of the Beloved.

I’m grateful for sturdy hijab pins. It’s much easier being able to wrap my scarf in the morning, and not have to worry about all day, then constantly fussing about it all the time.

I’m happy that Ramadhan is just around the corner, and alhamidullah I don’t have too many other commitments going on at the same time this year. For the first time in many years insha’Allah I’ll have more time to devote to maximizing the month. Yay Ramadhan! And I’m excited about the SunniPath Ramadan classes.

I’m grateful to have people in my life who care enough to point things out when my behaviour needs a bit of readjusting.

I’m grateful for online bookstores (where else would we be able to find great resources about Islam?), and the ability to read.

I’m grateful for the chance to get to know the coolest, newest member of our family. He is awesome.

hurrah!

Printable Sunnipath Curriculum guides!!! To read and re-read and get inspired by. One of the (many) things I really like about Sunnipath is their commitment to excellence and their attention to the student experience. The curriculum info is available on the website, but being able to have your own curriculum guide of each level with a really pretty cover just makes learning more fun.

More info here.